Chewing, and mouthing are normal dog behaviours, particularly if they are young. But you must train your dog to express this behaviour safely and acceptably. To stop your dog from chewing or mouthing things you don’t want them to, make it clear which things they can. In this blog, we explore the reason dogs mouth, nip, or bite and the steps you can take to get them to stop. 

Why Do Dogs Chew Things?

Dogs use their mouths to explore their surroundings, and it is a common sign that they want to play. This is referred to as ‘mouthing’ and they may do this more when they are teething, which usually lasts until they are around 7 months old. This wouldn’t necessarily be an issue, but they can start to chew or nip at you or your belongings, which can be dangerous for them and hurtful for you. 

Your dog won’t understand they are doing anything wrong, they just know it feels great to chew everything in sight. 

Steps to Take to Get Your Dog to Stop Mouthing, Nipping, or Biting

There are plenty of practical steps you can take to stop your dog from mouthing or chewing things they shouldn’t. 

Puppy-Proof Your Living Space

Remove any prized possessions or put them out of reach, so your dog isn’t tempted to chew them. You could restrict their access around the house by using child gates or a playpen, but sure they have plenty of toys to chew within their zone. 

Provide Suitable Chew Toys 

Swapping your dog’s toys daily will keep them interested and try to mix up the textures of toys, for example, a rope, rubber toy, soft toy, or a ball. When they are chewing on the right thing, remember to praise them. 

It’s a good idea to always keep a toy handy and recognise the signs that your puppy is ready to play. They may have an increase in energy, and begin bouncing around or whining. This means you can give them a toy before they start to chew or nip at you, showing them how to get it right from the start. 

Encourage Non-Contact Forms of Play

Avoid rough and tumble wrestling games, and instead encourage non-contact forms of play to eliminate the risk of them nipping at you or whoever they want. Tug-of-war games are safe and fun for everyone and allow your dog to let out their excitable energy. 

Teach Bite Inhibition

Bite inhibition refers to a dog’s ability to control the force of their mouthing. Young dogs can usually learn this during play with other dogs as they will usually chase, pounce, wrestle and sometimes bite each other. When a dog bites his playmate too hard, the other dog will let out a painful bite yelp and stop playing. The offender is taken aback by the yelp and also stops playing. Typically, both playmates will go back to the game a few moments later. This kind of interaction helps dogs learn to control the intensity of their bites so no one gets hurt. The same thing can be applied to humans. 

When you play with your dog, let them mouth at your hands and continue playing until they bite a bit too hard. Immediately give a high-pitched yelp as if you’re hurt and let your hand go limp. This should startle your dog and cause them to stop for a few seconds. If yelping doesn’t seem to have an effect, you can try saying ‘Too hard!’ or ‘No biting!’ in a stern voice. Praise them for stopping or if they are licking you, then resume play. Repeat this no more than three times within 15 minutes. 

Time Out Breaks

If you find that yelping or saying no doesn’t work, you can switch to doing time-out breaks. Time-out breaks are usually used for adolescent and adult dogs, as they are probably trying to push boundaries. When your dog delivers a hard bite, yelp loudly, and when they stop or turn to look at you, remove your hand and ignore them for 30 seconds, or if they start mouthing again, get up and move away for the same amount of time. If necessary, leave the room but ensure it’s puppy-proof!

After this short time-out, return to your dog and encourage play with you again. It’s important to teach them that gentle play continues, but painful play stops. If they bite hard again, repeat the same sequence. When your dog isn’t delivering really hard bites, tighten up the rules and repeat for moderately hard bites and so on, so they can learn how to control their mouthing so that you feel little or no pressure at all. 

Provide enough opportunities for exercise, socialisation and mental stimulation

Your dog may be more likely to bite or chew things if they are bored and are not getting enough physical or mental exercise. 

Make Sure Your Dog Gets Enough Rest

Puppies are much more likely to mouth when they are over-tired, so make sure they have time to relax and rest.

General Precautions to Be Aware Of

  • Don’t tell your dog off by slapping or hitting them for mouthing or chewing, as this can make them more anxious and make their behaviour worse.
  • Avoid waving your fingers in their face to entice them to play, as this can encourage them further. 
  • Avoid jerking your hands away from your dog when they nip, as it might seem like a game to them and encourage them to jump up at you. 
  • Don’t discourage your dog from playing with you in general, as playing together builds a strong bond between you both. You want to teach your dog to play gently rather than not at all.

Dog Training With A&T Trained Dogs

If you are finding it a struggle or overwhelming to get your dog to stop nipping or biting, our professional dog trainers can step in and help. Our specialist team can help build your confidence and train your dog, no matter their age or temperament. 

With extensive facilities and experience, our team will make a bespoke dog training plan for your dog and give you a thorough handover to extend into the home. Contact us online or call us on 01524 587 315.